During an episode of Jeremy Kyle’s new ITV show, Emergency Room, the TV host met with a patient named Charlene.
The 29-year-old was in a hospital bed after a 13-year battle with the eating disorder.
Charlene, who developed her eating disorder when she was a schoolgirl, emotionally told Jeremy: “It started when I was 15, I was a big girl and I wanted to lose weight.
"I'm pretty much in hospital all the time.
"I don't have periods and I have numerous other medical conditions too."
She soon broke down into tears as she shared more details with Jeremy, who nodded as he listened.
However he left viewers in shock when he turned to Charlene’s mum and asked bluntly: “Is it more difficult to accept because it’s self-inflicted?”
The 50-year-old continued: "There must be sometimes you want to go 'for God's sake, you're making yourself ill! Get yourself together!
"This isn't a terminal illness.”
However, clearly realising he’d gone too far, he added: “I know it is an illness, I'm not negating it, but as a parent you must go: 'God, come on!’”
Viewers soon took to Twitter to blast Jeremy Kyle for his behaviour.
One wrote sorrowfully: “Totally not comfortable with how this has been shown, utterly wrong to use this for entertainment.”
Another added: “He's on fire today. The insensitivity is coming out quicker than diarrhoea from a bad curry!”
And one more wrote: “Jeremy Kyle should NOT be allowed around vulnerable people!
“He's got about as much sensitivity as a tooth after a root canal.”
Jeremy Kyle has yet to comment on the backlash.